Lesson Title: The Solar SystemSubject: ScienceAuthor: Paige BethuneGrade Level: 4
Overview:
This lesson is designed for all types of learners at a Fourth Grade level. This week the students will be introduced to various aspects associated with the Solar System including the planets, the phases of the moon, the Sun, and how all of this affects life on Earth. The students will take part in collaborative learning activities as well as individual assignments most of which require the use of technology. All students will be required to do research on the internet, individual homework assignments, and take a quiz on everything discussed in this lesson at the end of the week.
There are 25 students in my class. The classroom is equipped with 5 computers. A majority of the computer assignments will be done in the computer lab at the school. Group work will be done in the classroom. All students will need access to the internet to complete homework assignments. There is a computer lab at the school that students can use before and after the regular class time.
Sunshine State Standards:
SC.E.1.2.5: The student understands the arrangement of planets in our Solar System. SC.4.E.5.2: Describe the changes in the observable shape of the moon over the course of about a month. SC.E.1.2: The student understands the interaction and organization in the Solar System and the Universe, and how this affects life on Earth. SC.4.E.5.4: Relate that the rotation of Earth (day and night) and apparent movements of the sun, moon, and stars are connected.
National Educational Technology Standards for Students (NETS•S)
1 (a-d): Students demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge, and develop innovative products and processes using technology. Students: a. apply existing knowledge to generate new ideas, products, or processes. b. create original works as a means of personal or group expression. c. use models and simulations to explore complex systems and issues. d. identify trends and forecast possibilities. 3 (b-d): Students apply digital tools to gather, evaluate, and use information. Students: b. locate, organize, analyze, evaluate, synthesize, and ethically use information from a variety of sources and media. c. evaluate and select information sources and digital tools based on the appropriateness to specific tasks. 5 (a-b): Students understand human, cultural, and societal issues related to technology and practice legal and ethical behavior. Students: a. advocate and practice safe, legal, and responsible use of information and technology. b. exhibit a positive attitude toward using technology that supports collaboration, learning, and productivity.
Analyzing The Learners
Before teaching this lesson, it is important to know the students in your classroom. First the teacher needs to ask a few questions:
1) Are there any students with disabilities in the class?
2) Are there any ESOL students in the class? If so, what are the levels of each student?
3) Are there any students that recently moved to the United States from another country that are not ESOL students?
If you answered yes to any of the above questions, you may need to modify this lesson plan slightly to fit all students in your classroom.
Next, the teacher needs to know the cultural background of the students. Because this lesson plan deals with the phases of the moon, the teacher may want to instruct the lesson in a way that causes no confusion because of differences in cultural background. For example, the teacher may want to address how in some cultures the moon appears for a longer period of time than in other cultures. Also, share how some cultures have different ideas and mythologies about the moon, stars, and planets.
Finally, the teacher needs to know the language development of the students. For example, when discussing the phases of the moon, the teacher may want to go over certain vocabulary words such as the term “cycle” and how it relates to phases of the moon. Some additional words might be “new moon”, “half moon”, and “quarter moon.”
The Objectives (Bloom's Taxonomy)
Knowledge: After completing the first homework assignment, the fourth grade students will be able to connect important vocabulary words to ideas associated with the moon, stars, and planets with the correct definitions with 95% accuracy.
Comprehension: At the beginning of the third day of the lesson, the fourth grade students will be able to pass a quiz consisting of 10 matching questions based on ideas previously taught in the lesson with 85% accuracy.
Application: At the end of the of the lesson, each of the fourth grade students will be able to write down at least one thing they learned about each planet in the Solar System that was discussed in the student presentations with 95% accuracy.
Analysis: Upon the completion of the lesson, the fourth grade students will be able to research information on the internet and subdivide this information into categories with 95% accuracy.
Synthesis: By the end of the third day of the lesson, each fourth grade student will be able to create mind maps using the Kidspiration computer software with 90% accuracy.
Evaluation: Upon the completion of the second day of the lesson, the fourth grade students will be able to justify why there are different phases of the moon with 90% accuracy.
Lesson Materials, Activities and Procedures
Monday Materials
Video- Exploring Our Backyard, The Solar System, Part 1
Video: Exploring our Backyard, the Solar System, Part 1 (10 minutes)
Students will watch a video that provides an introduction to the Solar System and what it includes. This video will present the students with an overview on what they will be learning this week including information on the planets, the moon, the Sun, and other stars.
Next the students will do an activity in the computer lab using Classworks. (30 minutes)
Classworks is a computer software that takes the information commonly found in textbooks and turns it into a fun and interactive lesson on the computer. The computer lab is equipped with headphones at each computer for the students to wear so they can listen to the audio.
The Classworks lesson that will be used is the Fourth Grade Solar System lesson. Students will have their own user name and password to login to their individual Classwork accounts. This software allows each student to read through each lesson with audio and take each quiz at their own pace. The first part of the lesson includes reading though information with audio. The second part includes interactive activities based on the lesson. The last part includes a quiz for the students to take.
It keeps records of each student’s grades and contains a list of other lesson material that they have already completed or still need to complete. The teacher can login to their own account on the software and obtain a list with each student’s grade on the assessments as well as the overall class average.
Allotted time walking to and from computer lab. (5 minutes)
After returning back to the classroom from the computer lab, the teacher will provide each student with a handout that includes the directions on how to access the Scavenger Hunt homework assignment. Students will need to write down answers on a separate piece of paper using complete sentences. This assignment will be turned in at the beginning of tomorrow’s class.
The handout will also include 15 vocabulary words that students will need to look in their textbook or use the internet to find the definitions. 10 of these vocabulary words will be used to make up Wednesday’s quiz. This quiz will include 10 matching type questions.
Pass out all materials and models the directions for this part of the lesson. (5 minutes)
Each student should have 5 Nilla Wafers, a pencil, a foldable, a handout with the moon phases, and their science journal.
The students will bite out phases of the moon using Nilla Wafer cookies and keep a record of the moon’s phases by tracing the cookie patterns and writing the new vocabulary words below the appropriate pictures. (30 minutes)
Have the students fold the foldable into fourths. Have them open up the whole paper and lay it flat on their desks. Give the baggies of Nilla Wafers to the students. They are to remove only one cookie at a time.
Take out one of the cookies, trace this whole cookie in box 1 and shade the entire circle in. This is called a New Moon and it starts the moon's rotation, or lunation.
Next, have the students take out another cookie. Demonstrate that they should bite along the left side of the cookie carefully, until they get something that looks like a backwards C. Trace this in box 2. This is called the Waxing (growing) Crescent.
Take out cookie number 3. Bite off half of the cookie. Trace this in box 3. This is called the First Quarter moon.
Nibble along the right side of cookie number 4. Trace this in box 4- it is called the Waxing Gibbous.
Take out cookie number 5. This cookie will not be eaten. Trace it just like it is. This is called a Full Moon. It is completely illuminated.
Take the cookie from box number 4 and flip it over. Trace- this is called the Waning (shrinking) Gibbous.
The cookie from box number 3 will become the Last Quarter moon for box 7. Flip it over so it is facing the left and trace it.
The cookie from box 2 will become the Waning Crescent in box 8. Flip this cookie as well and trace.
Label all moon phases at the bottom of the paper. Have the students either eat all of their cookies or place them in the baggie. Finally, have the students pass their phases to one person in your row (chosen by the teacher) and turn papers in
Next have the students, 5 at a time, use the computers in the classroom and go to this website
This link will take the students to a website where they can select any date from the past or in the future and see what type of moon it was or will be on that date. The students will select the date of their next birthday and see what type of moon it will be on that day. They will record this in their science journals at the end of the lesson.
Have the students open their science journals and write about one thing they learned about the Earth’s moon today. Responses should be anywhere from 2-5 sentences in length and include at least 2 new vocabulary words listed on each student’s handout. After a few minutes, allow the students to share what they have learned with the person sitting next to them. (10 minutes)
Discuss Homework Assignment (5 minutes)
Tonight each student will choose one person who has made a major contribution to space with research or great findings for tomorrow’s project. Students may print out or write down information about this person to make the project easier. This part of the assignment is optional as time will be given to students during class to research their person of choice.
Access to computer lab with 25 computers and printer
Kidspiration computer software
Activities and Procedures
Students are given a 10 question matching type quiz. (10 minutes)
Questions on the quiz are based on matching the correct vocabulary word with the correct definition and include the vocabulary words from Monday’s handout.
Next, the students will do an activity in the computer lab using Kidspiration. (30 minutes)
The students choose an astronaut or someone who has made a major contribution to space with research or other great findings.
The students will create a mind map using the Kidspiration Software. This mind map should include at least 5 main points:
2 personal life
2 work/ research/ space related ideas
1 major event/ finding/ accomplishment
Next, have the students export their files to a word document (5 minutes)
Each student will print their documents and turn it into the teacher for a grade
Allotted time walking to and from computer lab (5 minutes)
No Homework tonight
Total Time: 50 minutes
Thursday Materials
5 blank poster boards
Crayons
Markers
Pencils
5 computers in the classroom with internet access
Activities and Procedures
Hand out all materials and model the directions for students. (5 minutes)
Teacher will break up students into teams of 5 for a total of 5 groups.
Group Activity (35 minutes)
Each group will choose a planet in the Solar System to research and create a poster board display.
Each group will be required to use the internet to find at least 6 interesting facts about the planet of their choice. There are a total of 5 computers in the classroom with internet access, so each group will have a computer station to use. The students in each group will take turns on the computer or break up the tasks however they would like. For example, while some students research, others will help make the display. The main focus of this activity is for the students to work collaboratively and manage their time accordingly.
There will be markers, crayons, and pencils provided for students to use to help them enhance their poster board displays.
Teacher will collect all materials and give directions for student presentations.(5 minutes)
Group 1 presents (5 minutes)
The presentations should be no more than 3 minutes. Each student in the group must participate and speak at least once during the presentation. After the actual presentation, the students can also share what websites they used. The students should state why they chose a certain website and why other students would find this site useful.
Groups 2-5 will present their display board and talk about the websites they used and why other students might want to use them.
Review for Monday's Test (20 minutes)
Hand out the study guide to each student. Let the students know that a copy of the study guide will also be available on the student activities page on the class website.
Total Time: 50 minutes
Assessment
Attached is a grading rubric for this week's lesson on the Solar System. Students will be graded on turned in assignments, the quiz, the test and group collaboration and teamwork skills.
Monday’s portion of the lesson implements technology with the use of the video and the completion of the Classworks activity in the computer lab. This is a great way for the students to work individually and learn about the Solar System and what it entails.
Tuesday’s portion of the lesson implements technology with the use of the website. Students can use this website to find which moon phase will appear on their next birthday. This is a great way for students to personally relate to this part of the lesson.
Wednesday’s activity implements technology with the use of the Kidspiration software in the computer lab. This is a great way to keep students engaged because they are actually creating something of their own. This software allows the students to use their own creativity with a hands-on experience.
Thursday’s group project activity implements technology with the use of the 5 computers in the classroom. The students will take turn on the computer researching interesting facts about the planets. This is a great way for students to get familiar with the internet and evaluate websites.
Friday’s portion of the lesson implements technology when the students talk about which websites they used and why. The students will be able to show the websites to the entire class using the doc cam in the classroom. This is a great way for the students to see other websites they could have used or that can be used in the future.
Overview:
This lesson is designed for all types of learners at a Fourth Grade level. This week the students will be introduced to various aspects associated with the Solar System including the planets, the phases of the moon, the Sun, and how all of this affects life on Earth. The students will take part in collaborative learning activities as well as individual assignments most of which require the use of technology. All students will be required to do research on the internet, individual homework assignments, and take a quiz on everything discussed in this lesson at the end of the week.
There are 25 students in my class. The classroom is equipped with 5 computers. A majority of the computer assignments will be done in the computer lab at the school. Group work will be done in the classroom. All students will need access to the internet to complete homework assignments. There is a computer lab at the school that students can use before and after the regular class time.
Sunshine State Standards:
SC.E.1.2.5: The student understands the arrangement of planets in our Solar System.SC.4.E.5.2: Describe the changes in the observable shape of the moon over the course of about a month.
SC.E.1.2: The student understands the interaction and organization in the Solar System and the Universe, and how this affects life on Earth.
SC.4.E.5.4: Relate that the rotation of Earth (day and night) and apparent movements of the sun, moon, and stars are connected.
National Educational Technology Standards for Students (NETS•S)
1 (a-d):
Students demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge, and develop innovative products and processes using technology. Students:
a. apply existing knowledge to generate new ideas, products, or processes.
b. create original works as a means of personal or group expression.
c. use models and simulations to explore complex systems and issues.
d. identify trends and forecast possibilities.
3 (b-d):
Students apply digital tools to gather, evaluate, and use information. Students:
b. locate, organize, analyze, evaluate, synthesize, and ethically use information from a variety of sources and media.
c. evaluate and select information sources and digital tools based on the appropriateness to specific tasks.
5 (a-b):
Students understand human, cultural, and societal issues related to technology and practice legal and ethical behavior. Students:
a. advocate and practice safe, legal, and responsible use of information and technology.
b. exhibit a positive attitude toward using technology that supports collaboration, learning, and productivity.
Analyzing The Learners
Before teaching this lesson, it is important to know the students in your classroom. First the teacher needs to ask a few questions:
1) Are there any students with disabilities in the class?
2) Are there any ESOL students in the class? If so, what are the levels of each student?
3) Are there any students that recently moved to the United States from another country that are not ESOL students?
If you answered yes to any of the above questions, you may need to modify this lesson plan slightly to fit all students in your classroom.
Next, the teacher needs to know the cultural background of the students. Because this lesson plan deals with the phases of the moon, the teacher may want to instruct the lesson in a way that causes no confusion because of differences in cultural background. For example, the teacher may want to address how in some cultures the moon appears for a longer period of time than in other cultures. Also, share how some cultures have different ideas and mythologies about the moon, stars, and planets.
Finally, the teacher needs to know the language development of the students. For example, when discussing the phases of the moon, the teacher may want to go over certain vocabulary words such as the term “cycle” and how it relates to phases of the moon. Some additional words might be “new moon”, “half moon”, and “quarter moon.”
The Objectives (Bloom's Taxonomy)
Knowledge: After completing the first homework assignment, the fourth grade students will be able to connect important vocabulary words to ideas associated with the moon, stars, and planets with the correct definitions with 95% accuracy.
Comprehension: At the beginning of the third day of the lesson, the fourth grade students will be able to pass a quiz consisting of 10 matching questions based on ideas previously taught in the lesson with 85% accuracy.
Application: At the end of the of the lesson, each of the fourth grade students will be able to write down at least one thing they learned about each planet in the Solar System that was discussed in the student presentations with 95% accuracy.
Analysis: Upon the completion of the lesson, the fourth grade students will be able to research information on the internet and subdivide this information into categories with 95% accuracy.
Synthesis: By the end of the third day of the lesson, each fourth grade student will be able to create mind maps using the Kidspiration computer software with 90% accuracy.
Evaluation: Upon the completion of the second day of the lesson, the fourth grade students will be able to justify why there are different phases of the moon with 90% accuracy.
Lesson Materials, Activities and Procedures
MondayMaterials
Activities and Procedures
- After returning back to the classroom from the computer lab, the teacher will provide each student with a handout that includes the directions on how to access the Scavenger Hunt homework assignment. Students will need to write down answers on a separate piece of paper using complete sentences. This assignment will be turned in at the beginning of tomorrow’s class.
- The handout will also include 15 vocabulary words that students will need to look in their textbook or use the internet to find the definitions. 10 of these vocabulary words will be used to make up Wednesday’s quiz. This quiz will include 10 matching type questions.
Total Time : 50 minutesTuesday
Materials
Activities and Procedures
- Pass out all materials and models the directions for this part of the lesson. (5 minutes)
- Each student should have 5 Nilla Wafers, a pencil, a foldable, a handout with the moon phases, and their science journal.
- The students will bite out phases of the moon using Nilla Wafer cookies and keep a record of the moon’s phases by tracing the cookie patterns and writing the new vocabulary words below the appropriate pictures. (30 minutes)
- Have the students fold the foldable into fourths. Have them open up the whole paper and lay it flat on their desks. Give the baggies of Nilla Wafers to the students. They are to remove only one cookie at a time.
- Take out one of the cookies, trace this whole cookie in box 1 and shade the entire circle in. This is called a New Moon and it starts the moon's rotation, or lunation.
- Next, have the students take out another cookie. Demonstrate that they should bite along the left side of the cookie carefully, until they get something that looks like a backwards C. Trace this in box 2. This is called the Waxing (growing) Crescent.
- Take out cookie number 3. Bite off half of the cookie. Trace this in box 3. This is called the First Quarter moon.
- Nibble along the right side of cookie number 4. Trace this in box 4- it is called the Waxing Gibbous.
- Take out cookie number 5. This cookie will not be eaten. Trace it just like it is. This is called a Full Moon. It is completely illuminated.
- Take the cookie from box number 4 and flip it over. Trace- this is called the Waning (shrinking) Gibbous.
- The cookie from box number 3 will become the Last Quarter moon for box 7. Flip it over so it is facing the left and trace it.
- The cookie from box 2 will become the Waning Crescent in box 8. Flip this cookie as well and trace.
- Label all moon phases at the bottom of the paper. Have the students either eat all of their cookies or place them in the baggie. Finally, have the students pass their phases to one person in your row (chosen by the teacher) and turn papers in
- Next have the students, 5 at a time, use the computers in the classroom and go to this website
- This link will take the students to a website where they can select any date from the past or in the future and see what type of moon it was or will be on that date. The students will select the date of their next birthday and see what type of moon it will be on that day. They will record this in their science journals at the end of the lesson.
- Have the students open their science journals and write about one thing they learned about the Earth’s moon today. Responses should be anywhere from 2-5 sentences in length and include at least 2 new vocabulary words listed on each student’s handout. After a few minutes, allow the students to share what they have learned with the person sitting next to them. (10 minutes)
- Discuss Homework Assignment (5 minutes)
- Tonight each student will choose one person who has made a major contribution to space with research or great findings for tomorrow’s project. Students may print out or write down information about this person to make the project easier. This part of the assignment is optional as time will be given to students during class to research their person of choice.
Total Time: 50 minutesWednesday
Materials
Activities and Procedures
- Students are given a 10 question matching type quiz. (10 minutes)
- Questions on the quiz are based on matching the correct vocabulary word with the correct definition and include the vocabulary words from Monday’s handout.
- Next, the students will do an activity in the computer lab using Kidspiration. (30 minutes)
- The students choose an astronaut or someone who has made a major contribution to space with research or other great findings.
- The students will create a mind map using the Kidspiration Software. This mind map should include at least 5 main points:
- 2 personal life
- 2 work/ research/ space related ideas
- 1 major event/ finding/ accomplishment
- Next, have the students export their files to a word document (5 minutes)
- Each student will print their documents and turn it into the teacher for a grade
- Allotted time walking to and from computer lab (5 minutes)
- No Homework tonight
Total Time: 50 minutesThursday
Materials
Activities and Procedures
Friday
Materials
Activities and Procedures
Assessment
Evaluation of Lesson Plan